The government has announced that it will recruit 100,000 youth into the Kazi Mtaani program, which had previously drawn significant public interest but was halted due to budget constraints.
The initiative is now set to spread to counties outside of Nairobi, where it resumed in June.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo made the announcement during an interview on Ramogi FM on Tuesday night, saying the government had secured funds to roll out the program in the remaining 46 counties.
Omollo said the initial pause was caused by budgetary constraints, but the program is now ready to expand. “Kazi Mtaani is set to resume in other counties and the government has a target of recruiting 100,000 youth into the program,” he said.
NYOTA Programme
On the youth engagement platform NYOTA, Omollo explained that the program had initially aimed to take at least 70 youth per ward, which would have totalled 100,000 participants.
Under the NYOTA Programme, 90,000 youth will undergo technical and vocational training aimed at equipping them with practical expertise for the job market.
Further, the government targets to support at least 100,000 youth under this business funding component as part of its broader plan to empower young people economically.
The programme will also recognise prior learning for those who have acquired technical expertise through apprenticeships or informal work, awarding them certificates to enhance their employability.
However, during the verification exercise, officials discovered that 400,000 applicants had expressed interest in joining the program, far exceeding initial expectations.
Omollo added that the government was committed to finding additional funds to ensure that the 300,000 youth not covered initially would also have the opportunity to be provided with the cash incentives, training, and business empowerment.
Security Matters
Turning to security matters, the PS revealed that the government is set to launch a mobile app enabling citizens to report road-related incidents directly online.
“We are soon introducing a mobile app that allows citizens to report incidents, particularly road-related cases, directly online,” he said.
He added that the administration has made significant progress in police modernisation and the adoption of technology. “Most stations currently use traditional Occurrence Books (OB), but we are transitioning to a Digital OB system to enhance transparency and curb case manipulation,” he explained.
